If you're still paying $10 a day for a "global" eSIM that throttles you to 2G speeds after 500MB, you're getting scammed. The eSIM market is flooded with overpriced garbage that preys on travelers who don't read the fine print. I've tested them all, and I almost missed a critical investor call in Tokyo because my "unlimited" plan from a big-name competitor suddenly dropped to unusable speeds during peak hours. That's when I switched to Holafly Unlimited, and it's a beast—but it's not perfect, and you need to know exactly where it kills and where it falls short.
The Meat: Where Holafly Actually Wins (and Fails)
Let's cut the fluff. Holafly Unlimited's killer feature is its true unlimited data with no throttling—most competitors claim this but secretly cap you after a few gigs. I used 87GB in a month across Europe, and the speed never dipped below 25 Mbps. Compare that to Airalo's "unlimited" plan, which throttled me to 1 Mbps after 5GB, making video calls impossible. But Holafly's app is a mess. The activation process requires you to manually select a network in some countries, and if you pick the wrong one, you're stuck with no data until you dig through a confusing settings menu. I wasted 20 minutes in Madrid because the UI didn't clearly indicate which carrier had the best coverage.
💡 Pro Tip: Always download the Holafly eSIM before you leave home. Their app sometimes fails to fetch the QR code on unstable airport Wi-Fi, and their support takes hours to respond. I learned this the hard way in Bangkok.
Pricing is another brutal difference. Holafly charges a flat rate per region (e.g., $47 for 15 days in Europe), while competitors like Nomad break it down by country, which can add up fast. But Holafly's "unlimited" doesn't include hotspot tethering on all plans—check the fine print, or you'll be stuck using your phone as a brick. I tried to tether my laptop in Berlin and got a pop-up saying I needed to upgrade, which felt like a cheap upsell.
The Data: No-BS Comparison Table
| Feature | Holafly Unlimited | Airalo | Nomad | Ubigi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| True Unlimited Data | ✅ Yes (no throttling) | ❌ No (throttles after 5GB) | ❌ No (data caps vary) | ✅ Yes (but pricey) |
| Price for 15 Days in Europe | $47 | $26 (for 10GB, not unlimited) | $35 (for 15GB) | $59 |
| Hotspot Tethering | ⚠️ Limited (check plan) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| App Usability | ❌ Clunky UI | ✅ Smooth | ✅ Good | ✅ Best in class |
| Customer Support | Slow (email only) | Fast (chat) | Mixed | Fast |
The Verdict
Buy Holafly Unlimited if you're a heavy data user who streams or works on the go and can tolerate a buggy app. It's the only service that genuinely doesn't throttle, making it a beast for digital nomads. Otherwise, avoid it—if you need reliable hotspot tethering or a smooth setup, go with Ubigi (but prepare to pay more) or Airalo for short trips with light usage. Don't waste money on Nomad; their regional pricing is a rip-off for multi-country travel.
Originally published at Nexus AI
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